Shinjuku Gyoen: the National Garden and Park in Tokyo

Shinjuku Gyoen (新宿御苑), one of the largest and most popular parks and gardens in Tokyo, is a Tokyo’s oasis with lots of greenery while it is located in the center of the metropolitan area Shinjuku. There are some types of gardens such as Japan traditional and French one in the park, and you can see beautiful cherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves in autumn. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is the best green spot to escape the noise of the city and enjoy nature in Tokyo!

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden has been loved for the long time. The site of the park was owned by the powerful Japanese feudal lords around the 16th century: Hideyoshi Toyotomi and Ieyasu Tokugawa. The first garden was founded in 1772 by a feudal lord of the Edo period. And then, Shinjuku Gyoen was completed in 1906, however, it was burnt down in 1945 for the World War II. Four years later, the revived park was open to the public, and the current Shinjugu Gyoen has been visited by numerous domestic and international people since then.

3 gardens in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

Left: Japanese Traditional Garden; Right: English Landscape Garden

There are three types of gardens: Japanese landscape garden, English landscape garden and French garden.

Japanese Traditional Garden

The quiet Japanese traditional style garden is designed along the ponds slowly flowing. There are some historical buildings in Shinjuku Gyoen, and the Japanese Traditional Garden has the most treasured one Kyugoryotei (旧御凉亭). Japanese plums and cherry blossoms colors the park in spring and maple leaves are tinted in autumn.

English Landscape Garden

One of the reasons why so many people visit the Shinjuku Gyoen Park is the vast expense of lawns in English Landscape Garden area. You can lie about and see the skyscrapers in Shinjuku downtown at the wide open space. The landscape pf the garden looks like New York City’s Central Park and Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is also known as Tokyo’s Central Park.

French Formal Garden

The third face of Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is French Formal Garden which is beautifully designed in a symmetric way. A bed of flowers including about 500 roses is centered at the garden, and over 150 plane trees stands along the both sides of the flowerbed.

In addition to the gardens and seasonal flowers, Shinjuku Gyoen has more facilities such as a greenhouse, tea houses and a restaurant. You can take a break with various food menu at the restaurant: from Tonkatsu (pork cutlet) and Udon noodle to pasta and curry.

Shinjuku is much more famous for the red light district Kabukicho for nightlife and exciting spots like Robot Restaurant, however, relaxing at the rich nature spot is one of the best things to do in Shinjuku. For additional information, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden inspired one of the popular Japanese anime film “The Garden of Words” by Makoto Shinkai, who is the director of “Your Name (Kimi no Na wa)”.

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

Hours: 9:00–16:00

Close: Mondays and Dec 29th-Jan 3rd

Access: 10 mins walk from South Exit of Shinjuku Station (新宿駅) / 5 mins walk from Exit №1 of Shinjukugyoen-mae Station (新宿御苑駅)

Admission Fee: JPY500

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